Recovery and life changes after a trapeziectomy

[jobelly]

I was wondering if anyone has had a trapeziectomy and how long recovery took and if you had full function afterwards.
I’ve had osteoarthritis in my thumbs for a few years which has been caused by my job and gave me great pain and struggles at work. As a last resort I’ve had the joints removed in June and then September last year, but I’m still having a lot of pain and my function isn’t great. I was hoping to go back to work in a few weeks but that’s not going to happen and I’m now frightened I may never go back.
I don’t know anyone who has had this operation and was hoping there might be someone on here who could give me reassurance that it just needs more time. I know myself that every operation and recovery is different and you can’t compare, but it would be nice to have someone’s opinion who has been through the same thing.
I’m lucky that I'm not suffering anything life threatening, but the potential loss of job that is part of who you are as well as the financial implications, is so life changing that it can be difficult to deal with.

[lizzie145]

Sorry but I don't know anything about the recovery time but just wanted to make sure that you have informed your employer of the cause of the pain. If it is work related you need to ensure that you follow this up especially if you dont return to work.

Are you seeing a physio?

[jobelly]

Originally Posted by lizzie145

Sorry but I don't know anything about the recovery time but just wanted to make sure that you have informed your employer of the cause of the pain. If it is work related you need to ensure that you follow this up especially if you dont return to work.

Are you seeing a physio?

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I’m self employed but work for someone else as well and he is also having the same problem but not so severe and he’s closer to retirement.
The physio has discharged me now with exercises but I still have follow up appointments with my surgeon.

[MelC]

I had a Trapeziectomy with LRTI on October 19th, over 8 weeks ago. The pain isn't quite as bad now, but I am still struggling with the swelling. Started physical therapy a couple weeks ago, got a compression glove, and I can now touch the tip of my index finger with my thumb. I can barely touch the tip of my middle finger when the swelling is down. The surgeon has told me it's a 6 month long recovery. I had horrible pain for over 5 months before the surgery, pain that compared to a broken bone, and I was cake decorator at a major store bakery full-time. It's been over 2 months since the surgery, and the pain and inability to do things is really eating at me. I just wasn't prepared for what all I've experienced after the surgery - the pain, the total lack of use of my hand for so long, the swelling, the brace, not driving, having to rely on other people for the simplest things I can't do, and the long long long recovery period. I guess I am just being impatient. Maybe I need to go get the ice pack and a pillow and just watch a movie. Lol

[jobelly]

Originally Posted by MelC

I had a Trapeziectomy with LRTI on October 19th, over 8 weeks ago. The pain isn't quite as bad now, but I am still struggling with the swelling. Started physical therapy a couple weeks ago, got a compression glove, and I can now touch the tip of my index finger with my thumb. I can barely touch the tip of my middle finger when the swelling is down. The surgeon has told me it's a 6 month long recovery. I had horrible pain for over 5 months before the surgery, pain that compared to a broken bone, and I was cake decorator at a major store bakery full-time. It's been over 2 months since the surgery, and the pain and inability to do things is really eating at me. I just wasn't prepared for what all I've experienced after the surgery - the pain, the total lack of use of my hand for so long, the swelling, the brace, not driving, having to rely on other people for the simplest things I can't do, and the long long long recovery period. I guess I am just being impatient. Maybe I need to go get the ice pack and a pillow and just watch a movie. Lol

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I think you might have to be patient and hope for good recovery. I’m now 18 months on from my left and 15 months for my right and have been told I won’t ever be able to return to work. I’m devastated as I trained for five years as a dentist, and then worked doing that since 1997, it’s all I’ve known. My pain subsided a bit (I’d been having trouble since 2015 and tried so many different things before the trapziectomies) but has been dreadful the last few months and my consultant says I have tendonitis now which can occur afterwards.
I can do some stuff, but generally I struggle a lot with day to day chores and obviously the need for my hands doing dentistry is too intensive and if anything went wrong I wouldn’t have a chance legally. I don’t know if I’ve just been unlucky or if the need I have is just too great for what I’ve had done. I thing the average age for this procedure is elderly so probably they don’t have the demands of 3 kids without even considering the work aspect.
I hope you recover quickly, I was told it’s one of the most painful operations you can have, so don’t think it’s just you as I thought I was just being a wuss. Fingers crossed you recover enough to get back to work.
If you’re ever low or have a question just message me as I’d wished I’d had someone I knew who had had it done.

[DavidDunston]

I had Thumb surgery about eight weeks ago I’ve got to say the pain has been excruciating. I had to wear a brace at night which I’ve just been told to stop using. I was at the physiotherapy last week and it seems that the web muscle between my thumb and the base of my four finger has collapsed so I’ve got even more excruciating exercises to do before next week. My main issues are complete weakness when trying to pick things up with my left hand I’ve learnt to do so much in a very different way and I wonder if it will ever get back to how it used to be. My whole hand and wrist is still very swollen which I am told is normal hard to believe I know and if truth be told I wish I had never had it done. I am back to work now as I have more of a clerical job and I’m typing a lot of the time which isn’t causing any problems it’s just a general day-to-day living I simply cannot exert any pressure or pull on that Left hand at all I certainly would never have my right hand done if it was necessary.

[flames7607]

Hi,

I found this post through the wonders of the internet. I'm 57, and have arthritis in the CMC and STT joints of both thumbs. Fortunately, after being messed about by a consultant here in the south, I've just had injections into the STT joint at a specialist hand clinic in Derby (they seem to be far more expert than anyone I've previously met)
At some point in the future I may need to have the trapezium bone removed. I've heard many horror stories about the results, so I was wondering how are all you guys doing with your recovery ?

Any information on your journey to recovery would be helpful.

Thanks